Each institution’s position in the ranking is determined by aggregating the D-indexes (Discipline H-indexes) of all affiliated scholars whose primary research focus is in Ecology and Evolution. The D-index is a discipline-specific index, taking into account only publications and citations within the field of Ecology and Evolution, ensuring that the evaluated impact is tightly aligned with the discipline in question.
Scope of Research and Selection Criteria
To ensure the breadth and depth of the analysis, a total of 279,971 scientist profiles were initially considered across various bibliometric sources, of which 28,170 specifically from Ecology and Evolution were further analyzed. Researchers qualified for ranking consideration only if they met a threshold D-index of 30, and the majority of each scholar's leading publications had to pertain to Ecology and Evolution.
In addition to bibliometric performance, scientists’ awards and achievements in the field were included as qualitative factors. The D-index threshold for recognition as a top researcher incrementally increases by 10 points, depending on the total number of scholars present in each discipline, with the aim of ensuring that the top 1% of leading scholars are covered in the final list. Furthermore, it was required that the gap between a scientist's general H-index and their D-index not exceed 30%, in order to maintain discipline-specific rigor. Awards and achievements in the field also influenced a researcher's inclusion and recognition in the ranking.
Verification and Quality Assurance Practices
The Research.com team recognizes that raw bibliometric data cannot, and should not, serve as the sole instrument for evaluating scholars’ research outputs. With this in mind, every scientist profile underwent manual verification and was cross-checked against a wide array of trusted publication sources. While not directly affecting a researcher’s ranking position, the volume of publications in top-tier journals and conference proceedings serves as an important supplementary indicator of contribution and recognition in the discipline.
The final ranking position is determined based on each scientist’s H-index as established from data collected through OpenAlex and CrossRef, two of the most prominent and reputable bibliometric databases available to the academic community. For further details on the methodology and selection processes, please consult our our methodology page.
Research.com’s Agenda and Mission
At Research.com, our mission is to inspire scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers worldwide to keep abreast of where top experts are guiding their disciplines. Our rankings are designed to provide the wider research community with transparent, accessible insights into who the most influential scholars are within specific academic domains, across different countries, and at a variety of research institutions.
Key Results of the 4th Edition Ranking
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Top 3 Institutions by Number of Leading Scientists:
- University of California, Davis – 72 scientists
- University of Florida – 55 scientists
- Cornell University – 53 scientists
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Global Representation of Top Scholars:
The most prominent scientists in Ecology and Evolution are affiliated with esteemed institutions including University of Minnesota, University of Exeter, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Stanford University, University of Göttingen, University of Queensland, University of Paris-Saclay, Peking University, and Stockholm University.
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Top Individual Scholars:
- Professor Peter B. Reich (University of Minnesota) is recognized as the world's leading scientist in Ecology and Evolution with a D-index of 207.
- Kevin J. Gaston (University of Exeter) holds the second global position with a D-index of 188.
- David Tilman (University of Minnesota) ranks third globally with a D-index of 182.
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Statistical Averages Among Top Institutions:
- The average total D-index for the top 5% universities is 2,286, compared to an average of 372 across all 877 ranked institutions.
- The average number of published articles by scientists affiliated with the top 5% of universities is 6,974, compared to 1,206 across all 877 institutions.
- The average number of citations for researchers at the top 1% universities is 1,279,971, versus an average of 279,971 overall.
Research.com is proud to present these results to the scientific community and remains committed to continual methodological refinement and transparency in recognizing excellence in Ecology and Evolution.
